Tag: Junction Chamber

M.J.MM Storm Sewer








Drains McMechen respectively, including Mosher and John. Was relieved by Druid Hill/ North Avenue Intercepter. It varies in size from an arched culvert 12 feet wide and 15 feet high to a circle 4 feet 6 inches in diameter. Drains out the Rutters Run Lateral. An old, forgotten, buried yet ever present stream. Extensive system with 2 significant junction chambers. Its tunnel system drains out an area known to be notorious for small streams,springs and quicksand. The same engineering grief was had during the construction of the B&O railroad tunnel that lies just north of this tunnel. Exploration of these tunnels requires a man raft as it is block by a deep pit of water of unknown depth. It was once thought that a man raft would be required to access this system but later explorations proved otherwise. However, it has come to our understanding that old drains suffer from deep silt deposits and stagnant air making their penetration and documentation quite treacherous.

Exploration & Discovery Abstract

This tunnel lies within the zone of Baltimore’s “Forgotten Triangle”. For years this tunnel was missed, as it is tucked away in thick brush and mangled railroad waste and appears irrelevant to the untrained eye on satellite imagery. However, one day, the explorer took note of a small, slow flowing stream (almost stagnant in some places) that was tucked away in the corner of the Forgotten triangle. It was decided to follow this stream, with little hopes that it would turn up anything more then a small stone storm drain. The terrain leading up to the drain is treacherous. Mangled, metal and trash strewn everywhere making the explorer cognizant of every step he takes. There is evidence of old foundations and structures and a reconstructed railroad utility. bridge After about a 10 minute traverse, you don’t see the tunnel until your right on top of it due to tree branches and snake like vines covering its entrance. At this point, its like your down in a hole. The side embankments are about 15-20ft above your head but the stone granite arch tunnel itself is like bored into a 40 foot high embankment.

storm drain outfall M.JMM
M.JMM Outfall Tunnel looking in.





Princess Drain



The Princess Drain featuring a brick laden flume chamber. So low key and easy to access, with curbside parking and a 3 meter hike. Even a princess wearing high heels, while taking a selfie could access. Hence the name Princess Drain. It even has slots built into the walls, to place your lamps for exposure shots.It is a sizable storm drain, draining an urban shopping zone with its showcase double flume chamber feature, no further then 8ft inside. Keep reading more below….

This drain was accidentally found on google maps while searching for directions to a newly relocated supermarket. A small stream appeared out of nowhere, from underneath a parking lot, emptying out into a park/wooded area. Any urban explorer or drainer would be highly suspicious potential drain and at the time, the GPS was simply highlighted and saved/bookmarked on Google maps and left be.
Months later, an hour of free time came about after a 13 hour banger at work and I already was in the vicinity and spontaneously decided to explore and confirm its existence. The last time I spontaneously did some urban exploration was over a year so I was itching to get out and get some more fresh content. Ironically it began to drizzle, as soon after I pulled into the parking lot. Shaking my head, speaking into the rolling GoPro “When it Rains, Stay Out of Drains”. I am already here, Im just going to check it out and confirm the existence of something worthwhile. While pulling into the parking lot, it became very apparent that access to this drain would be extremely easy. Already I would see the line of trees, hiding the urban stream dead ending into the parking lot.
I literally park next to a short foot path leading into the park or veer left down into the drainage basin. Boom there it was, a sizable 6ft drain with corresponding slanted concrete walls, laid out into its foundation. Princess Drains most notable and worthwhile features is not more then 2-3 meters inside. Two 130cm concrete drains join into the one 2 meter drain. This was accomplished by constructing a brick laden flume chamber.

The one left sided drain does not go back very far, as a brick wall can barely be seen standing at its mouth. The second right sided drain, leads out toward the direction of the road and was later penetrated. Curiosity left ungoverned, one could hypothesize “What if it connects into the old system, what if this pipe served as an overflow (CSO)?”. Later exploration & penetration of this section proved that, following this tunnel, all the way out to the road, the tunnel simple continues after a corner. The corner consisted of a nice brick laden section before continuing onward, following the direction of the street.

Guilford Avenue Junction : Goliath Chamber



Jones Falls Conduit - Goliath Chamber



Approximately 800-1000 meters, deep inside this stormsewer, lies a transition point from new to old. Its massive so some people always called it the Goliath Chamber. It is the Junction Chamber that converges the 2 1959’s built tunnels into 1 tunnel. The ceiling of the sewer increases in height furthermore. Its the largest chamber in the entire subterranean system. It is simply massive. The light from torches will be swallowed. Its that big. A century old jewel, buried deep under the city, with its citizens completely unaware of its existence beneath their feet.

Jones Falls Conduit Goliath Chamber North

Looking north from inside the Goliath Chamber, towards the end of Penn Station’s Chasm Halls

Jones Falls Conduit System
Jones Falls River Infall Stage
JFX Intake/Infall Tunnels
JFX Triple Barrel Junction Chamber
JFX Diversion Tunnels
Guilford Avenue Junction Chamber
Old Guilford Avenue Diversion Tunnel
The Original JF Conduits Proper


Many of the environments & areas presented on this website are hazardous, and were only entered on the basis of extensive training, experience and planning. Do not try to access these sites / tunnels / storm sewers , they should not be trifled with.   The intent of these pages are to provide historical documentation.  An explorer already risked their life, so that you can explore virtually from home… so stay safe, and stay away! Consider this neither a disclaimer, nor a recommendation.

JFX Triple Barrel Junction Chamber | Triple Barrel Hall



It is at this point where the infall tunnel conduits go from 3 tunnel conduits into 2 massive tunnel conduits. The transition point involves a significant increase in the grade. There is an almost terrorizing like roar, a prominent change in acoustics can be heard ahead, as the now buried Jones Falls river quickly drops further in elevation and in turn increases its speed.

look down nares to triple
Looking South, tunnel floor grade increases, dropping elevation and ceiling starts to open up. Protective cast iron convex can be seen on the center dividing wall.





The junction point where the tunnel transitions from 3 tunnels to 2 tunnel the floor levels out. (Its difficult to describe this part in writing) but at this point, that is before the 2 tunnels are separate from each other (forming the main JFX Jones Falls River Diversion Tunnels), there is a brief opening of the western side and the eastern side. The opening is approximately 4-5 meters long with a 20cm lip/curb that contains/separates the daily flow of the river from the eastern flood conduit. The Jones Falls river is running at velocity in the western conduit as the steep grade levels out. Both conduits bear west and past this point you are separated from the main/daily flow of the river.

jones falls conduit junction chamber
Looking North – the left conduit is the western conduit containing the daily flow. The center and right conduits convert into one conduit which serves its purpose during flood stage.

The beginning of the central dividing wall, in which divides the 2 tunnels, has a heavy protective convex piece of cast iron encapsulating its face. The dividing wall itself appears to be approximately 20-25 centimeters in thickness and serves as a protective piece of the design.

Jones Falls Conduit System
Jones Falls River Infall Stage
JFX Intake/Infall Tunnels
JFX Triple Barrel Junction Chamber
JFX Diversion Tunnels
Guilford Avenue Junction Chamber
Old Guilford Avenue Diversion Tunnel
The Original JF Conduits Proper

WARNING:
The intent of these pages are to provide historical documentation. Many of the environments & areas presented on this website are hazardous, and were only entered on the basis of extensive training, experience, research and planning. Do not try to access these sites / tunnels / storm sewers , they should not be trifled with.   The intent of these pages are to provide historical documentation for future generation.  An explorer already risked their life, so that you can explore virtually from home… so stay safe, and stay away! Consider this neither a disclaimer, nor a recommendation.